In front of Suria Sabah Shopping Mall is an abandoned old coronial building where the local artists used as to show off their talent in street arts.
Below an wall art titled "I Love my Antu gonie" by Toy Tom Jintaro
vvv
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Thursday, November 11, 2010
In search of family root
In a week time, three of us from the family will be in South of China for a week Guided Tour of Guilin City. Guilin is said to be the most beautiful location in China. We look forward to this exciting trip.
But I have another aim in the trip - in search of my family root. As this is a guided tour package when most of the time will be with the tour group in seeing places of interest, I hope there would be occasion when I can venture out in seek of the home towns of Wong Shin Chiang and Pang Len Yin.
Wong and Pang, my grand parents, both came from Guangzhou Province on the same rail road to Guilin City.
Both my grand parents left very little records of their home towns. Neither do they leave any wish that their grand children should return to see their home towns one day in the future. They, like thousand other Hakka Chinese in the overseas, prefer their pass history be left unknown and be forgotten for ever. For that was the reason they were in the oversea to seek a new life and new future. They, like millions others, left their home towns at the time China was at her darkest age.
But I am determine to dick out the hidden secret history of my family. Bringing with me to China is only this few pages of information of them in China:
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Chinese and Indian Youth
Chinese and Indian Youth
How are young Indians and Chinese different from their elders?
Are they smarter?
Lazier?
More creative?
Less obedient?
How will their differences affect the development of the two nations in coming decades, in everything from consumption patterns to technological advancement?
In 2005 BusinessWeek brought together 13 of the smartest people for an online roundtable on the past, present, and future of China and India.
The online discussion cover geopolitics to generation gaps.
Read the full 13 views from :
Friday, August 20, 2010
The end of the world
七十年代我於古晉中學畢丵進入社會。困入當時世局危機
其中以下三大困境給與我最大知識和智慧發。受用一生。
1) 世界未日之危機
2) 中國共產放世介之危機
3) 伊俍政府害巴哈伊信徒之風波
以美國基督敎主導之世界未日論加上中國主導之世界放，兩大國造之雙重危機圍困
亜洲在雙重危機圍困下, 巴哈伊信仰以救世主之身份乘機而入
以印度人主導之巴哈伊信仰在馬來西亜受到一批英文教育之精英支
在信仰傳播者以印度為最，華次之。在基之民支者又以土蓍為主量。
My life is full of crisis 危機及風波. So do others.
The most impact crisis came during my secondary schools days. On the top 10 list of crisis, the following 3 were the most impact to my life and development. They shaped my destiny and that how I became who I am today.
1) The End of the World.
2) The Coming of Chinese Communist.
3) The persecution of the Baha'is in Iran.
As I left school and seek for jobs, seek for a living, seek for a wife, establishing a family, having children’s, the above 3 crisis eventually drop to the bottom of the list and as times goes by vanished.
The crisis I faced during secondary school of youth eventually faded out of every day life. But really? At least not all.......................................
.......................Tonight is the 19 Day Feast of NAME of the Baha'i. After the Feast I pick him home and while on the way he shared the news of the night "......The persecution of the Baha'is in Iran....". Here again, history repeat, the same crisis of the last century I have to face with "The persecution of the Baha'is in Iran". He is secondary school age, the same youth period as I was when I have to face the crisis.
By now I am an old man. Yet my life is still full of crisis 危機及風波.
....2nd para. deleted ....
....3rd para. deleted...
1) The world not yet end, at least not yet ended the way many expected it to be. But that does not matter. The old century passed decade ago and we now well into a new century. My crisis now is no more THE END OF THE WORLD but a new crisis of BUILDING A NEW WORLD. It is a crisis because my baha'i friends themselves do not know how a new world should be although a few of their leaders boasting to bluff me through.
2) The Chinese Communist is no more coming. And no sign of them coming for the rest of the century. Now there is an emptiness worry in the heat, Why they do not come?
3) The persecution of the Baha'is in Iran crisis still on. It seems this crisis will carry on for the rest of the century. Why God, the almighty, help and save them? "It is God's will", a few of my Baha'i friends told me. Perhaps it is true. It is God who using them to educating the world educated me. It is their imprisonment that make me realize the freedom I have been enjoying. It is their dying in name of a Divine Cause that I realize my equally precious life should not wasted on earthly pursue. It is their persecution by their own government that I felt how much my government protected me. It is their children being deprived of education that I appreciate my Education Department striving for my children in education opportunity and advancement and a profession in the future. It is their powerlessly crying for the rest of the world to help them that I realize on me is an endorsement of potential power to help the rest of the world.
Friday, July 9, 2010
Monday, July 5, 2010
HSBC RESIDENCE AT SUMMIT THOMAS V.
Story of an Englishman and a Chinaman
Once upon a time an Englishman set across the Indian ocean and came to the island of Borneo. At the same time was a Chinaman set sale across China Ocean and landed at the same port of Jesselton.
They both need a roof over the heads and set out to search for a location. Look out from the port of Jesselton you will see the hill overlooking the South China Sea with lash green and screnity. That is Signal Hill. So both toward that hill and both locate an ideal spot of their choice and build their home where new family begin.
The Englishman chose the summit with panoramic view. Look toward the East is the distant view of the majestic of Mount Kinabalu. Look toward the West is the vast sea of South China.
A house made of a sawn timber frame with machins planks.
As for the Chinaman? Below the summit is a valley where he went in search. With great joy he found a spring when fresh sweet cool water gush out from within the rocks.
A first home made from trees surrounding. Using the small tree trunk as poles and frames.
Both of them live in wooden houses without sufficient care would not be standing too long. Before too long, weather and forest reclaim them. The destiny is that no one would restore them and let lost forever.
--- empty paragraph ---
It is sad to see our pass is being abandoned for too weak to face the truth. The truth of being a descendent of the poor, the sick, the ignorant and illiterate.
SEMINARI TEOLOGI SABAH
SEMINARI TEOLOGI SABAH
On the site of the Sunday School of my childhood, today stand a big modern SEMINARI TEOLOGI SABAH. It should be this way - a sign of progress and development.
This is the old location of Lok Yuk Primary and Secondary School. Lok Yuk Primary taught in Chinese while Lok Yuk Secondary taught in English. I attended Primary 5 here after that change to Chung Hwa for Primary 6. The principal is Wo Wun Chi who's house is just oppoist our valley.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Monday, June 21, 2010
Under the Madai trees
Under the Madai trees - Under the trees in Madai Forest Reserve Center.
We found many interesting things, we learn new things.
Kunak - Quiet Town Happy People
On our return journey, we made a detour and visit this little town of KUNAK. Non of us being to this town before despite Tawau is just 100 km away from here. Kunak Town has a population 50,000 mainly Bajau and Bugis. A sizeable Chinese population involved in the running most shops in the town and landowners cultivating oil palms.
"...Eat more swordfish and shark meat. These types of fish have high concentrations of Omega-3 fatty acids, the healthy fats that support healthy cell, muscle and tissue growth. Focus on adding these to your daily meals whenever possible...." This is a suggestion I read in a Keep-slim article.
The 3 big sward fish in the boat is about one meter in length. Drying on the wooden jetty (photo above) are some smaller swardfish drying up under the strong sun to be made into salted-fish. Though it is unhygenic to place such food under processing on the foot path where every walked on, these salted fish are surprising "Clean" with no house flies.
This is not an ordinary fishing boat. Chun Xing was the first to bring every one attention to a family living inside this house boat. This is a curious and interesting life style to us.
The sea gypsies (Palauh) of Sabah retained their drifting seafaring lifestyle. This traditional nomad kind still skim the waters in their boathouses and forage for food in the sea reef.
Kunak local population include a colorful mix of local Bajau (the sea gypsies), Chinese, Philippino and Indonesian all bringing with them their individual culture and language.
What are they doing inside their house-boat? "They are counting cash while the children watch by...."
The sea-Bajau are among the lowest income group in Malaysia. This has received the attention of government and international welfare organizations. As a result, livelihood for the local has greatly improved for the past decades.
As for this boat family we saw at the jetty, seem they just made a successful trade with their sea products and now counting the earning. A profit enough to sustain the whole family for sometimes. I peep at their cash...... are all Rm50 notes.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Father's Day Outing to Madai Water Fall
June 20, Father’s Day again. While much fuss is made about mother's day every year, the father prefer to ignore such a day to avoid fuss. But over the dinner table he himself carelessly brought out the idea "Tomorrow is Sunday, anybody want to go somewhere for an outing?" not aware that tomorrow is a Father's Day but only interested to take the family out for a drive in the family new car Viva. Taking the opportunity. the son quickly suggested an outing to Madai Water Fall.
So that is how we had a Father's Day outing to Madai Water Fall today. And we arrived at noon after 2 hours drive from home.
Viewed at the same angle at a different day, Madai Waterfall displayed a complete different characteristic.
When we came to Madai 10 days ago we saw a lady like Madai Waterfall soft falling water whispering down the cliff. Today we saw strong volume of water roaring down the cliff like solders marching to war.
Last night, a heavy downpour in this region and today we found Madai Water Fall with strong water smashes down the 50 meters height into the pool below and further downstream in a strong current.
PHOTO above : From this point, the fast flowing water jump a 50 meters down to the pool below.
We came fully prepared for a cool waterfall shower, but to find out that last nigh heavy rain made a strong current flow today. As a safety precaution, non of us get into the water as no one there in the down stream to save us in case one of us swept away by strong current
But the local young people are not afraid, several young men and young ladies enjoy the cool and strong mountain water. There, you can see two brave Muslim girls enjoy playing against the fast flowing water (photo below).
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Empowered for Academic Success
| Powered Youth | Common Youth | |
| 1 | Courageous personity | Cars |
| 2 | Character independent | Cash |
| 3 | Clarity in mind | Condominiums |
| 4 | Career pursuing | Cards |
| 5 | Committed in responsibilities | Clubs |
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Pointing a finger under the sun
"Point a finger under the tropical sun, a rare damselfly will come to rest on your finger tip."
Seem like a dream for a nature lover but this is every day life in the nature in Borneo Island. Sabah is still in touch with nature.
This afternoon we came to Madai Water Fall for the first time. I was snapping snapshoot of the Water Fall when a damselfly came to rest on my right thumb. Moment later another damselfly of the same species rest on my left index finger what a friendly little creatures they are.
It was not only me these little flying ferry befriended. Yin has been sitting on a rock beside me amazing but the little flying insects equally astonished by one also rest on her finger. Damselflies not only love your finger tips, they equally love to sit on your feet too.
Monday, June 7, 2010
SEPILOK ORANG UTAN REHABILITATION CENTRE
Young Orangutans are cute. We drive our new Viva to Sandakan just to see the Orang Utan at the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center.
Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center is 25 Km from Sandakan. The Center is easy to find because of big clear signboards along the road.
The center is surrounded by 4,000 plus hectares of Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve.Divided into several sections :
1) main reception,
2) information center
3) animal clinic
4) quarantine section/area
5) enclosures for different animals
6) offices
A diligent staff group of more than 30 members – Wildlife Officer, Wildlife Rangers, Veterinary Doctors and workers.
This rehabilitation was established in 1964 for the purpose of caring for the orangutans and making sure they can returned to the wild where they can live on their own.
Those baby orangutans in the Centre are saved from village people who keep them as household pets. Some are rescued from illegal poachers. Some from forest sites where trees are being cut down and forests destroyed.
While at the Sepilok Orangutan Center, the baby orangutans are cared for and trained so that they are able to survive in the wild once they are released. The number of orangutans housed in the reserve at a time range from fifty to about a hundred.
The center has become a favorite destination of tourists who would like to be able to view these orangutans up close and personal in a setting that is very close to their natural habitat.
It is not everyday that you can encounter an orangutan. But even if this is the case, one must remember that this is still a Rehabilitation Center and all animals are meticulously cared for. Because of this, people who visit are restricted to certain areas to view the orangutans.
A particular walkway leads to both the viewing area and the feeding platform where one can observe the orangutans feed.
Feeding schedule is done at around mid morning and mid afternoon. Some people usually depend on the zoom lenses of their cameras to capture the orangutans from the walkway.
After viewing the orangutans, adventurous visitors usually join trekking tours while in Sepilok. It is a fine idea most especially since Sepilok is surrounded by lush forests.
There are other animals that can be viewed during the trek including certain species of lizards, birds, and insects.
Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center not only concerned about the welfare of orangutans but also taken responsibility of educating the public on the conservation of animals and their environment plus more intensive research to protect and breed endangered species.
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